What's on in Ilmington

Warwickshire, England

The proper local stuff the big sites overlook — from open mic nights to dog shows, toddler groups to talks about local history that turn out to be more interesting than you'd think. Ilmington keeps its calendar surprisingly full, and we've tracked down the lot. Coffee mornings that turn into proper catch-ups. Quiz nights where the same team wins every week and everyone pretends not to mind. Craft fairs, food markets, community screenings, and workshops teaching you things you didn't know you wanted to learn. All the things that make living somewhere feel like actually living somewhere, not just sleeping there.

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Live Music

Vincent Flatts Final Drive

Found this on Thirst Edition's radar. Vincent Flatts Final Drive — sounds promising. Click through for the director's cut.

Mon 27 AprThirst Edition(3.4mi)

via Thirst EditionCurated

Community

Forever Clapton

A brand new production for 2026 and outstanding tribute to one of the most iconic Blues and Rock guitarists of all time! Forever Clapton is a fully LIVE 6 piece showband that along with audio-visual displays tells the story of the incredible guitarist Eric Clapton.  Taking you through Clapton's career from 1965 to present day, from the Blues Breakers, to Cream, Derek and the Dominos, and of course those unplugged performances.This faultless show is performed by Benny "guitar" Smith, who along with his hand picked band perform all the greats such as - I shot the Sheriff,  Lay down Sally, Cocaine, Crossroads, Holy mother, Layla and so many more iconic songs in this near 2 hour show.

Fri 1 May19:30Cidermill Theatre(4.5mi)

via Cidermill TheatreLocal gem

Dance

PERFORMANCE | American Contemporary Dances with The Hartford Dance Collective

Purchase Tickets Join us in the intimate Webb barn for the Museum’s first commissioned dance performance! Experience dance in-the-round, featuring new and established works by The Hartford Dance Collective. Rooted in themes of female empowerment, the dances explore strength, resilience, and self-expression through bold physicality and nuanced storytelling. Inspired by America’s 250th anniversary, the Collective enriches the story of our nation’s founding by amplifying women’s voices and experiences. Surrounded by history and audience alike, the dancers invite viewers into a shared space where past and present converge—where the courage to claim one’s voice echoes the spirit of those who shaped a new nation within these very walls. About This Commission In commissioning this work, the Museum celebrates both a milestone and a continuation: bringing contemporary artists into dialogue with a site where questions of identity, purpose, and collective future have always lived. PERFORMANCE | Friday, May 8, 7 PM 5:30 PM | VIP Ticketholders Talkback with Hartford Dance Collective 6:15 PM | Doors open 6:15-7:00 PM | Cash bar available, furnished by Vino Crudo 7:00 PM | Performance in-the-round TICKETS | $18 / $25 / $30 / $45 Students (16-22) | $18 Members | $25 General Admission | $30 Inner Circle VIP | $45 Premiere seating: first two rows Pre-performance talk-back with dancers and choreographers of Hartford Dance Collective Early-admission Reserved Parking Access to one open...

Fri 8 May19:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Community

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Open-Level Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective

Purchase Tickets Dance with us! Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead an open-level dance class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE! Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden. Date: May 9 Tickets: $20 The Hartford Dance Collective | The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

Sat 9 May10:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Dance

PERFORMANCE | American Contemporary Dances with The Hartford Dance Collective

Purchase Tickets Join us in the intimate Webb barn for the Museum’s first commissioned dance performance! Experience dance in-the-round, featuring new and established works by The Hartford Dance Collective. Rooted in themes of female empowerment, the dances explore strength, resilience, and self-expression through bold physicality and nuanced storytelling. Inspired by America’s 250th anniversary, the Collective enriches the story of our nation’s founding by amplifying women’s voices and experiences. Surrounded by history and audience alike, the dancers invite viewers into a shared space where past and present converge—where the courage to claim one’s voice echoes the spirit of those who shaped a new nation within these very walls. About This Commission In commissioning this work, the Museum celebrates both a milestone and a continuation: bringing contemporary artists into dialogue with a site where questions of identity, purpose, and collective future have always lived. PERFORMANCE | Saturday, May 9, 2 PM 12:30 PM | VIP ticket holders talkback with Hartford Dance Collective 1:15 PM | Doors open 1:15-2:00 PM | Cash Bar, furnished by Vino Crudo 2:00 PM | Performance in-the-round TICKETS | $18 / $25 / $30 / $45 Students (16-22) | $18 Members | $25 General Admission | $30 Inner Circle VIP | $45 Premiere seating: first two rows Pre-performance talk-back with dancers and choreographers of Hartford Dance Collective Early-admission Reserved Parking Access to one open rehearsal...

Sat 9 May14:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Live Music

Pat Austin (Tex from the Texan Peacocks)

Pat Austin (Tex from the Texan Peacocks) at Thirst Edition. Consider this your nudge. The organiser's site is your next stop for the details.

Sun 10 MayThirst Edition(3.4mi)

via Thirst EditionCurated

Community

TEA | Mother's Day Tea

Purchase Tickets Treat the special women in your life to an elegant Mother’s Day filled with flowers and flavor. Enjoy music and a morning stroll through our gardens with WDS Head Gardener Pete Winne, learning about the blooms and blossoms that shine in early Spring. Then share tea, cake, and conversation overlooking the beautiful grounds. Whether you’re celebrating a mother, grandmother, daughter, or dear friend, this is a gracious way to honor the women who you hold dear. Mother’s Day Tea Menu* Savory Bites Egg Tartlett (DF, GF) Smoked Salmon Finger Sandwiches Cucumber & Cheddar Finger Sandwiches Coronation Chicken Tea Sandwich Sweet Treats Assorted Scones with Cream & Jam Fruit Tart Flourless Chocolate Torte (GF) Bakewell Tart Beverages Blackberry Iced Tea Strawberry Lemonade Selection of Hot Tea *Menu subject to change. Please share allergens and food sensitivities to Note: Each event is limited to 20 guests. To book a private tour and tea for your friends and family,

Sun 10 May10:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Community

LECTURE | The Art of Collecting

LECTURE | The Art of Collecting with Ned Lazaro Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM Purchase Tickets What drives someone to seek out a two-hundred-year-old sampler—and what does that impulse tell us about who we are? Join textile historian Ned Lazaro, Associate Curator of Textiles and Costumes at The Wadsworth Atheneum and former curator of textiles at Historic Deerfield for a moderated discussion on the history of collecting schoolgirl samplers and other forms of needlepoint in the United States. From early needlework to printed broadsides, discover how these rescued objects shaped our understanding of material culture—and why they still matter. Tickets: $15 |$12.50 Virtual | $10 Members This lecture will be offered in person and via Zoom. *Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture to Members and Virtual ticket holders. Ned Lazaro | David E. (Ned) Lazaro is the Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut. He manages a collection of roughly 7,500 items, including costumes and textiles ranging from Egyptian artifacts to contemporary fashion. Lazaro specializes in interpreting fashion history, including 18th-to-20th-century deportment.

Thu 14 May19:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Community

The West End Tenors

Leading men from London's West End Combine in a powerhouse of vocal talent. After selling out arenas across Europe, The West End Tenors embark on their first UK Tour, bringing their smash hit show directly to you! The Cast of The West End Tenors have starred in musicals such as Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia and Miss Saigon, as well as performing at Windsor Castle for the Royal Family, the BBC Proms and the Eurovision Song Contest. Celebrating the greatest triumphs of Musical Theatre & Film, their spine-tingling vocals are not to be missed, leaving audiences breathless from start to finish.

Fri 15 May19:30Cidermill Theatre(4.5mi)

via Cidermill TheatreLocal gem

Community

FEUDING FOUNDERS COLLECTIVE | Feuding Founders: The Untold Drama of Silas Deane, John Jay, and the Lees of Virginia

Purchase Tickets We tend to remember the founders as marble men — monumental, unified, certain. The truth is messier and more interesting. The Feuding Founders Collective is a multi-site public history initiative that humanizes Silas Deane, John Jay, and the Lee brothers of Virginia — men who were in conversation, in collaboration, and sometimes in conflict with one another. Presented in partnership with Jay Heritage Center (NY), Friends of John Jay Homestead, and Menokin and Stratford Hall (VA), this series destabilizes the one-dimensional portraits we’ve inherited and invites audiences to sit with the full complexity of these lives: the ambition and the insecurity, the idealism and the grudges, the smear campaigns and the shared cause. In an era of weaponized media and public takedowns, these 250-year-old stories feel less like history and more like a mirror — and understanding how the founders navigated political polarization, character assassination, and the tension between principle and self-interest may be one of the most useful things the past can offer us right now. Three sites. Three perspectives.

Sat 16 May10:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Community

Forever Elton

Get ready for "Forever Elton– The Greatest Hits," featuring multi award-winning film composer and musician Phil Mountford. In this spectacular tribute show, immerse yourself in Elton John's iconic hits, from "Rocket Man" to "Your Song," and "Tiny Dancer" to "Crocodile Rock." Phil Mountford and his band bring the music legend's energy and charisma to life with their own homage to a night of timeless classics that'll have you singing at the top of your voices.“Absolutely Brilliant!”“Great stage presence…great band”“Stunning…it’s up there with the best shows I’ve ever seen”

Fri 22 May19:30Cidermill Theatre(4.5mi)

via Cidermill TheatreLocal gem

Community

FREE EVENT | Wethersfield 250 Jubilee: Revolutionary War Encampment & Traditional Trades Fair

FREE EVENT| Wethersfield 250 Jubilee: Revolutionary War Encampment & Traditional Trades Fair Saturday, May 23, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Join us for a free, family-friendly day that celebrates our Colonial heritage and the traditional trades that built America. This year, our beloved Revolutionary War Encampment joins forces with the Traditional Trades Fair for a full day marking America’s 250th anniversary on the museum grounds. Watch the 5th Connecticut Regiment set up camp with musket demonstrations, a battle skirmish with invading British Marines, open hearth cooking, and a children’s march with wooden muskets. Listen to traditional Colonial music and speak with a camp surgeon about his gruesome profession. Try your hand at centuries-old games like graces, or eavesdrop on military maneuvers. Alongside the encampment, skilled artisans demonstrate timber framing, weaving, carpentry, and historic restoration—the craftsmanship that built the nation and keeps our oldest buildings standing. Witness live preservation projects, try hands-on workshops, shop our vendor market for everything from tools to keepsakes, and discover centuries-old skills through family-friendly demonstrations, Colonial games, and activities.

Sat 23 May10:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Live Music

Shakespeare Morris

Shakespeare Morris? At Thirst Edition? Say no more. Well, actually — their site says quite a bit more. Worth a click.

Mon 25 MayThirst Edition(3.4mi)

via Thirst EditionCurated

Community

Swinging At The Cotton Club

Featuring: The Lindy Hop Dance Company & The Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra Take a step back into 1920s & ‘30s New York City and through the doors of Harlem’s hottest nightclub, The Cotton Club!For one night only, Swinging at The Cotton Club celebrates the breathtaking dance and music of the legendary nightclub. Where dancers such as Bojangles Robinson and the Nicholas Brothers lit-up the stage with their breathtaking routines, whilst the music greats of the era, such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Ella Fitzgerald, would have had the club swinging with their incredible live performances.In this show, the exhilarating dance and music of the Cotton Club is recreated by the fabulous Lindy Hop Dance Company, alongside The Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra featuring American vocalist Marlene Hill.So, brush off your dancing shoes, and get ready to be transported back to a glamourous era of Speakeasies, Flappers, and Lindy Hop, with ‘Swinging at the Cotton Club’!

Sat 30 May19:30Cidermill Theatre(4.5mi)

via Cidermill TheatreLocal gem

Live Music

JTKP Hammond Trio

Filed under: JTKP Hammond Trio at Thirst Edition looked too good not to mention. You're very welcome.

Sun 31 MayThirst Edition(3.4mi)

via Thirst EditionCurated

Community

WDS BOOK CLUB | The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding

Calling all bookworms, history buffs, preservationists and culture mavens! Join us for our NEW year-long book club, accompanied by a lecture series with acclaimed authors. This month we’re reading: The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding By Joseph Ellis (Available on audible) Tuesday, June 9, 6 pm | In Person and Virtual Moderated by TR Revella-Hamilton, WDS Director of Preservation & Collections Meet fellow history enthusiasts in person as we discuss thought-provoking books by acclaimed authors. Our carefully curated monthly selections delve into the rich tapestry of American and European history, featuring compelling works about revolutionary figures, historic preservation, decorative arts, and stories that shaped our cultural landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned historian, preservation enthusiast, or simply curious about the stories behind our built heritage, there’s a place for you in our community of learners. JOIN BOOK CLUB How it Works: Book Club meets bimonthly at the Museum and via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each designated month, unless otherwise noted. Book Club members will receive the newest book title via email two months prior to the book club date. You may join Book Club at any point during the year.

Tue 9 Jun18:00Joseph Webb Hall(3.3mi)

via Joseph Webb Hall

Community

The Popular Jazz Trio featuring Rebecca Poole – From Broadway to Brazil: A Golden Era

The Popular Jazz Trio bring a vibrant celebration of music from stage, screen and beyond, showcasing some of London’s finest jazz musicians in an evening of style, swing and storytelling.Led by chromatic harmonicist and percussionist Phil Hopkins (“a veritable virtuoso of the chromatic harmonica” – Jazz Journal), the trio have individually worked with many of the biggest names in entertainment, from Robbie Williams to Peggy Lee.Their show features sparkling jazz interpretations of classics from theatre (Oklahoma!, South Pacific), film (Midnight Cowboy), pop (The Beatles, Carole King) and Brazilian samba and bossa nova (Jobim, Ivan Lins). Expect superb musicianship, engaging anecdotes and a joyful journey through a golden era of music.Joining them for this special performance is acclaimed singer-songwriter Rebecca Poole.Rebecca is championed by Jazz FM and has performed alongside Jools Holland, appearing at iconic venues including the Royal Albert Hall, London Palladium and Wembley Stadium.She has shared the stage with Jamie Cullum, Lana Del Rey and Simply Red, and her distinctive vocals featured in the hit Netflix series The Crown.Her latest album Dreamers Ball has earned widespread acclaim and Record of the Week on BBC Sounds, Jazz FM and Smooth Jazz. A master entertainer, Rebecca brings deep velvet vocals, playful charm and a rich blend of romantic ballads, swing, Americana and blues.

Sat 13 Jun19:30Cidermill Theatre(4.5mi)

via Cidermill TheatreLocal gem

Community

Simon and Garfunkel Through the Years

Seventh Avenue Arts presents: Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years. Critically acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest tribute shows, Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years continues to delight audiences across the globe. Featuring stunning vocal harmonies from world-class musicians, this spectacular concert transports you on a journey through the epic songs and history of the much-loved Simon and Garfunkel. “One of the greatest tribute shows anywhere in the world” Stuart Cameron, BBC and ITV Broadcaster The show is a celebration of the unprecedented rise to fame of two boys from Queens, New York, who went on to become the most successful folk-rock duo of the 1960s, selling 38 million albums in the US alone, and receiving 10 Grammy Awards. In 1981, they performed to over half a million people in their hometown of New York, and in 1990 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Collectively known as Bookends, Dan Haynes and Pete Richards have been fronting Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years since its creation in 2011. Much like their idols, they became friends at school and could not resist singing together from a tender age. Alongside stops in London’s West End, the show has toured extensively around the UK, Europe, United States and Australia, attracting packed houses night after night.

Sun 14 Jun19:30Cidermill Theatre(4.5mi)

via Cidermill TheatreLocal gem

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